Window-shade apparatus



. S. CIA''MN WINDOW SHADE APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 5. 1922 QinPatented Apr. `24, 192s. y

l UNITED-STATES PAT `THOMAS s. cA'rLIN,'oI wAvEIiA'Nn, INDIANA,AssIGNoa'ro or INDIANA, or INDIANAPOLIS, INnLiNA,AA AcoaroRArIoN or IN-PORATION DIANA.

f ,i 71,666,99e

CATLIN-ToMPIiINs coni i WINDOW-'SHADE fA'PPARA'IUs.

'original applicati@ medirebruaryvs., 1922, k'serieu' No 533395:'retentit. 1,546,565, dated :my 21, 1925. v 1 mvided and this'applieatiqnnled June "15, 1925.1seria1No. 37,100.

This invention'.v relates vto improvementsjin window shade apparatus,and has. for its primary object the? sustaining of a. window shade inamanner to insure its correct location relative to ya window at alltimes by apparatus characterized by its simplicity and inexpensivenessof production. j

A further object is the adaptation ofthe structure possessing thequalifications above recited to windows of varying sizes.-

With these and further object-sin. viewas will in part hereinafterbecome" apparent and in part be stated, the invention com* Y prisescertain novel constructions, combmations and arrangements of parts as:subsequent-ly specified and claimed. f

In the accompanying drawings,- Figure 1 is a view'in front elevation ofan apparatus embodying the Vfeatures of 'the presentinvention, Vpartsbeing broken out for the saving of space. Figure 2 is a topplan viewthereof. Referring'rto the drawings vby numerals', 1 indicates asubstantially U-shaped bracket plate preferablyformed of sheetV metal,either as a stamping or from a strip of Inaterial, the bracket platebeing provided-with a vertically upwardly `opening .slotf2 formedtransversely in the plate `sl'l'bstantially lmidway of its length andhaving upstanding legs extending from the portion in `which the slot 2is formed. Said legsfterminate in offset portions or feet 3, 3, formedYwith apertures 4, 4 adapted to receive appropriate anchorage means,such as nails or screws..l For purpose of anchorage of said feet to anoverhanging portion of a window frame, the legs of the bracket plate 1may be twisted, as shown in the drawing, to cause the feet 3 tooutstand, that yis extend in a'- direction away from each other, but, ofcourse, the presence or absence of such twist is a matter of selectionand adaptation ,to

the particular type of window frame.

The bracket plate 1 is thus designed to Vbe anchored to the overhangingportion of the window frame and to depend therefrom in a manner toreceive and sustain an engaging pivot from a bracket rod 5. The rod 5 ispreferably formed of a strap of metal haviner midway of its length anoffset sectiontl digposed to contact with the outer face of the lowerportion of the bracket plate 1 and to thus sustain the main'portion ofthe rod clear of the; slot72. The

5 spaced from the` bracket. A 7 ex;

tends 'laterally Vfromjthe offset portion v6 f through the slot 2 andrests against the bot-- tom thereof, andis provided with an .ap-

propriate head y'8 for 'retaining the bracketl rod 5 in'engagement withthe bracket plate 1.y LItlisobvious, of course, that the rod '5.

may `beidetached by merely :being lifted. until' the pivot pin 7 'ismoved'vertically upwardly hereinafter stated. `Each terminal portion 9consists of a strip of appropriate material,

such as sheet metal, stamped or .otherwise formed to shape. Eachterminal portion 9` `has a section ylappingithe `respective end 'portionofthe-prod 5 and slidingly engage` otherwise' suitably anchored portion`v9 at'each end, each being a duplicatefof the other except for thereceiving' apertures for the shade roller terminals,.as;

in 7 Jin `practice y ingthe same, La plurality of tabs .10, 10, be-

ngiffomed onach terminal Portion 9 and bemg' bentxiaboutthe respectiveedge vP01.

tions of the `rod 5 #tov `retain the said rod and. respective sendportion 9 `in engagement while allowingfree longitudinal shiftingof;

the respective terminal portion l9 along the engaged portion. of rod 5.Each terminal' `portion 9, beyond the/respective endof the rod 5,eXtendsdownWa-rd and is bent to form a hook-like portion 11 terminatingin an upstanding `bracket 12. One of the brackets 12 is formed kmerely`with .an .aperture adapted to receive the usual, extended journal ortrunnion 13 of the shade roller 14, while the other bracket 12 is formedwith the usual slot for receiving the flat, extended terminal 15 of theshade roller 14, it being understood, of course, that the extendedterminal v15 is'of the .usual vconstruction con# `nected to an internalspring of the well known commercial type for elfecting return rotationof the shade roller 14 when it is de sired to roll the shade thereon.The bracket plates 12, 12, may, of course, be otherwise apertured orformedras 'required to receive any particular type of shade rollerterminal.

In operation, the bracket plate 1 1s janchored to the over-hanging.portion of the window casing or frame by appropriate eor ' tures 4, andthe bracket rod 5 is mounted pivotally on the bracket plate 1. Theterminal portions 9 are then adjusted longitudinally with respect to therod 5, preferably to such location that each terminal portion 9 overlapsthe engaged end portion of rod 5 to substantially the same extent asrdoes the other terminal portion 9 so as to produce an exact balance andcause the coin-A pleted structure to maintain by gravity a'substantially horizontal position While resting on the pivot 7.Y Theshade roller 14 with its shade, not illustrated, is then mounted in thebracket plates 12, and the structure is ready for use. It should benoted that if the actuating `spring ofroller 14 (not illustrated) causesthat end of roller 14 to be slightly heavier' than the opposite endportion, or if one end portion of the roller 14 with its shade isslightly heavier than the other for any reason, an eilective balance canreadily be obtained by an appropriate adjustment of the terminalportions 9. g. The

terminal portion 9 at the heavier end portion of roller 14 is merelyadjusted slightly from the pivot 7, and the other terminal portion 9correspondingly adjusted in a direction away from the pivot 7, but atall times such adjustment, when required, Will be usually only veryslight. Yet, the construction is such as to lend itself effectively to anicety of balance so that a canted position of the parts will not occur.The shade is operated substantially the same as the ordinary shade,except that should a careless operator cause the shade to assume aslightly angular relation to the roller 14, the parts Will adjustthemselves by gravity to a balanced position Whereas the bracket rod 5-Will be slightly out of the horizontal and .supporting parts thereby toassume their Y normal horizontal position.

This application is a division of my parent application, Serial No.533,795, filed February 3, 1922, Patent No. 1,546,565, July 21, 1925 andcovering improvements in Wintol dow shade apparatus. -Three otherdivisional applications from said parent application are copendingherewith, of which two contain broad claims relative to thisapplication, and this application contains claims sufliciently broad toread upon the showing in the third of said other divisionalapplications.

What is claimed is f 1. In Window shade apparatus, the combination of aU-shaped bracket plate adapted to have its legs anchored to afhorizontaloverhanging surface, a flat bracket rod having an ofset intermediateportion contacting withand pivotally engaging the bracket plate, andshade roller sustaining means carried by said bracket rod.f

2. In Window shade apparatus, Vthe combination of a U-shaped bracketplate adapted to have its legs anchored to a horizontal overhangingsurface, the plate having a vertical slot opening upwardly intermediateits ends, a flat bracket rod'having an offset poi'- tion contactingvWith the bracket plate and pivotally engaging the same through saidslot, and shade roller sustaining meansl carried by said bracket rod. l

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

' THOMAS S. CATLIN.

